Toothbrush



Nov. 25, 1930. c. M. MCARTHUR TOOTHBRUSH Filed Nov. `9, 1929 Bmg/@WPatented Nov. 25, 1930 ICE CLARENCE M. MOTEUR, F DETROIT, MICHIGANTOOTHBRUSH Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,098.

My invention relates to an improved tooth brush.

rlFhe object is to provide a tooth brush which is thoroughly sanitary,which will not evinjure the teeth or gums, and which is particularlyeective for the purpose for which it is intended to be used.

Une important object of my invention is the provision of a tooth brushhaving an iml@ proved cleaning, or brush element, which,

after use, may be removed and replaced by a new element of the samecharacter.

construction is such that the cleaning element or brush portion is heldsecurely in position M for use but is readily removable and replaceableby another one. The cleaning element is held in position by anarrangement which is not only of simple construction and easy to operatebut is also readily accessible for clean- 2@ ing and sterilization.

The cleaning element itself is simpleV and inexpensive and it is myintention to provide cleaning elements for replacement whereby, afteruse, a cleaning element may be thrown away and replaced with a newsterilized one. My cleaning element also includes important and novelcharacteristics. lt is thoroughly eiiicient for cleaning and it is ofsuch a kind that it will not injure the soft tissues of the mouth. lt isadapted to readily carry a suit able antiseptic and replaceable elementsmay be provided with the desired antiseptic and in any quantity desired.rl`he cleaning element is so supported as to be more eiiiciently appliedto the teeth to clean them.

Various other important features of my invention will appear from thefollowing description, appended claims, and accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of my improved tooth brush showing the brushpartly broken away,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinally sectional view through the brush holdingportion illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a plan of the head portion of my improved brush,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the under side of lone of the retainingmembers, and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the brush element itself, L

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section showling a modiied form ofconstruction.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a tooth brush which carries areplaceable brush portion, or cleaning element, which is readily securedin position to eifectively function and which is easily replaced by asimilar one. 'In the embodiment shown in the drawing l have illust-rateda tooth brush having a handle portion 10 provided with a brush holdingor head portion 12 which carries a perpendicularly projecting lip 14.This lip is .shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as having a slightly concave outeredge 16. In the modification of Fig. 8 it is shown as having a toothedor corrugated outer edge 17. This lip may be rigid and substantiallyinflexible or it may be resilient and flexible. lt may be of any desiredheight and length.

The brush element 18 is here illustrated as being formed of suitablesponge rubber and may have a contour wherein two spaced apart parallelridges 20 are arranged to form opposite corners of the outer face whenthe element is folded over the rib 14 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and3.

rlhe head portion 12 carries two retaining arms 22. Each arm is pivotedat 24 to the head portion whereby it may be swung outwardly to permitthe insertion or removal of the brush element- 18 or moved inwardly andsecured detachably in place to hold the brush element in position. Eachposition of the arm is shown in Fig. 5. Each arm is provided with areduced outer end portion 25 and the outer end of the head portion ofthe brush is undercut as at 26 to receive the portions 25 ofthe arms toretain them in place. To facilitate engagement of the arms to swing themoutwardly from the secured position the head portion of the brush isprovided with notches 28 and each arm is provided with an undercut 30which registers with the notch. Each arm is angular in the cross sectionso that it has a flange portion 32 which overhangs the base 12.

The brush portion 18 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive issubstantially flat and is folded over the lip 14 as shown in Figs. 1 and3. As a matter of ready insertion it is preferably placed against oneside of the lip portion 14 with the edge resting upon the base 12 andthe adjacent arm 22 is then swung into position with the portion 25engaging in the notch 26 of the head. The arm urges the ad jacentmarginal portion of the brush element 18 against the base in the mannershown'in Fig. 3. The brush element is then completely folded over thelip 14 and the other arm is similarly secured in place. The brushelement is now held securely in position as shown in Fig. 1.

The brush element being preferably formed of sponge rubber is highlyporous and readily absorbs any suitable antiseptic with which it may bedesired to impregnate the same so that the brush element may be used asa carrier for a cleaning composition for the teeth, thus obviating thenecessity of employn ing a cleaning composition as it is used at thepresent time. The porous character of the sponge rubber also providesinnumerable small sponge rubber projections which engage in the spacesbetween the teeth to clean them. The arrangement of the securing meansis very simple and the entire frame structure may well be formed of asuitable Celluloid or other hard composition material which may bereadily cleaned and will not collect dirt or germs.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a slightly modified form wherein the lip portion14 has a notched outer edge 17 over which a sponge rubber cleaningelement 19 is received. rlhis element 19 is formed with a groove 21,shown as closed at both ends, which is received over the lip 14 and thebase of the groove is shaped to engage the notched edge of the lip toposition the same thereon.

What I claim is:

1. A tooth brush comprising a handle having a brush holding headprovided with a lip portion, an arm pivoted to the head on each side ofthe lip portion and adapted to be de tachably engaged with said head, abrush element folded over said lip portion and adapted to be held inplace by said arms.

2. A tooth brush comprising, in combination, a handle having a brushholding part including a projecting lip, a pair of flexible arms pivotedon each Side of said lip adjacent one extremity thereof and adapted toextend parallel thereto to secure a brushing element over said lip, theopposite extremity of said arms including means cooperating with saidbrush holding part to detachably lock said arms in position.

3. A tooth brush including, in combination, a brush holding baseportion, a project- CLARENCE M. MCARTHUR.

